Bard College
Bard College maintains over $1 billion in assets despite recent operating deficits and reports no officer compensation.
EIN: 141713034 · Annandale, NY · NTEE: B43Z · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $391.8M |
| Total Expenses | $360.1M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $555.2M |
| Transparency Score | 75/100 |
Is Bard College Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Bard College directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Bard College
Bard College (EIN: 141713034) is a nonprofit organization based in Annandale, NY, classified under NTEE code B43Z. The organization reported total revenue of $391.8M and total assets of $1.1B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Bard College's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Bard College is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 76 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 0.7%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $304.0M |
| Total Expenses | $360.1M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-56,125,678 |
| Total Assets | $1.0B |
| Total Liabilities | $450.0M |
| Net Assets | $555.2M |
| Operating Margin | -18.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 44.8% |
| Months of Reserves | 33.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Bard College reported a deficit of $56.1M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 33.5 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 44.8% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Bard College's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.7%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -23.4% | +11.1% | +4.4% |
| 2022 | -6.9% | +11.8% | +9.9% |
| 2021 | +14.8% | -1.4% | +32.7% |
| 2020 | +36.0% | +3.5% | +15.5% |
| 2019 | +1.3% | +2.7% | -1.2% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1950 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Bard College with a Mission Score of 75 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Bard College allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $56.1M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 44.8%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings is highly unusual for an institution of Bard College's size and financial activity, suggesting that executive compensation may be reported in a manner that is not immediately transparent on the 990, or that key leadership is compensated through a related entity.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Bard College's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, which is highly unusual for an organization of this scale and may obscure actual executive pay.
- Operating deficits in recent years (e.g., $360 million expenses vs. $303 million revenue in 2023), indicating reliance on non-operating income or endowment draws to cover costs.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Bard College:
- Substantial and growing asset base, exceeding $1.1 billion, providing long-term financial stability.
- Significant revenue generation, with a peak of $426 million in 2021, demonstrating strong fundraising and operational capacity.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), indicating consistent compliance and transparency in reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bard College
Is Bard College a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Bard College (EIN: 141713034) some concerns. Mission Score: 75/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Bard College spend its money?
Bard College directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Bard College tax-deductible?
Bard College is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 141713034). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Bard College's spending goes to programs?
Bard College directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Bard College compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 75/100 (Good), Bard College is above average for NTEE category B43Z nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Bard College located?
Bard College is headquartered in Annandale, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 141713034. It is classified under NTEE code B43Z.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Bard College have?
Bard College has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $391.8M in total revenue.
Is Bard College financially stable?
Yes, Bard College appears financially stable, with over $1.1 billion in assets as of the latest filing, despite experiencing operating deficits in some recent years (e.g., $360 million expenses vs. $303 million revenue in 2023).
How has Bard College's revenue trended?
Bard College's revenue has fluctuated, peaking at $426 million in 2021, then decreasing to $396 million in 2022, and further to $303 million in 2023.
What is the explanation for 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is highly unusual and warrants further investigation, as it suggests executive compensation may be reported under different categories or through related entities, impacting transparency.
Has Bard College's asset base grown?
Yes, Bard College's assets have shown significant growth, increasing from $571 million in 2019 to over $1 billion in 2023, indicating strong financial management and investment performance.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Bard College showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Bard College's revenue has grown by 9.3%, moving from $278.1M to $304.0M. Total assets increased by 63.3% over the same period, from $615.4M to $1.0B. Total functional expenses rose by 78.3%, from $201.9M to $360.1M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Bard College reported a deficit of $56.1M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $450.0M in liabilities against $1.0B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 44.8%), resulting in net assets of $555.2M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $304.0M | $360.1M | $1.0B | $450.0M | — | — |
| 2022 | $396.7M | $324.0M | $962.7M | $355.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $426.3M | $289.7M | $875.7M | $326.5M | — | — |
| 2020 | $371.2M | $294.0M | $660.1M | $273.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $273.0M | $284.2M | $571.6M | $260.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $269.5M | $276.8M | $578.4M | $243.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $261.6M | $262.0M | $611.4M | $265.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $256.0M | $260.1M | $570.3M | $242.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $239.9M | $254.0M | $563.0M | $210.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $227.0M | $244.9M | $573.6M | $210.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $202.9M | $237.1M | $598.3M | $220.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $196.3M | $215.9M | $604.4M | $209.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $278.1M | $201.9M | $615.4M | $205.4M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $304.0M, expenses of $360.1M, and assets of $1.0B (revenue -23.4% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $396.7M, expenses of $324.0M, and assets of $962.7M (revenue -6.9% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $426.3M, expenses of $289.7M, and assets of $875.7M (revenue +14.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $371.2M, expenses of $294.0M, and assets of $660.1M (revenue +36.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $273.0M, expenses of $284.2M, and assets of $571.6M (revenue +1.3% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $269.5M, expenses of $276.8M, and assets of $578.4M (revenue +3.0% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $261.6M, expenses of $262.0M, and assets of $611.4M (revenue +2.2% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $256.0M, expenses of $260.1M, and assets of $570.3M (revenue +6.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $239.9M, expenses of $254.0M, and assets of $563.0M (revenue +5.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $227.0M, expenses of $244.9M, and assets of $573.6M (revenue +11.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $202.9M, expenses of $237.1M, and assets of $598.3M (revenue +3.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $196.3M, expenses of $215.9M, and assets of $604.4M (revenue -29.4% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $278.1M, expenses of $201.9M, and assets of $615.4M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Bard College:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Bard College is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.